Park board considering golf program for area youths

At Baker Park Golf Course, there are leagues for men, women and seniors. But until now, there were no leagues for youngsters.

That might change this year. Brian Johnson, director of parks and recreation, told the Kewanee Park Board at their meeting this week that he has met with Kirk Fristad about setting up a youth golf league in conjunction with the annual golf lessons for young people that are offered at Baker Park.

Johnson said no details have been firmed up, but the leagues would probably play for seven or eight weeks. The leagues would wrap up before the Ken Fristad Memorial Youth Golf Tournament July 26.

Board President Bob Dybdal shared information with the board he had received from the U.S. Golf Association about accommodating young golfers. The USGA, for example, recommends setting out tee markers for the youngsters that are much closer to the greens than adult tees are.

The league and tournament are part of a “big summer golf package for kids,” Johnson said, which is intended to stimulate interest in golf among young people.

Also this week, the board accepted the bid of Summy Construction to build new bathrooms at Chautauqua and Windmont parks, at a cost of $17,500 each.

The buildings will have men’s and women’s bathrooms, and will be of the same design as the bathrooms near No. 6 tee at Baker Park.

The board also approved three youth baseball tournaments for this summer: A tournament for kids 10 and under on July 20 and 21, one for kids 12 and under on July 27 and 28 and one for kids 9 and under June 29 and 30.

The board waived the usual $40-per-diamond fee for diamond setup. Games would be played on the Little League fields and possibly on Case Fields.

Johnson also reported that Kewanee police apprehended and ticketed some youths who were driving on the turf at Northeast Park. The board thanked the police department for their actions.